US20080264391A1 - Canister arrangement in power generating apparatus - Google Patents

Canister arrangement in power generating apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US20080264391A1
US20080264391A1 US12/109,933 US10993308A US2008264391A1 US 20080264391 A1 US20080264391 A1 US 20080264391A1 US 10993308 A US10993308 A US 10993308A US 2008264391 A1 US2008264391 A1 US 2008264391A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
canister
muffler
engine
generating apparatus
power generating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/109,933
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English (en)
Inventor
Masanobu Yamamoto
Takahide Sugiyama
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Yamaha Motor Powered Products Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Yamaha Motor Powered Products Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Yamaha Motor Powered Products Co Ltd filed Critical Yamaha Motor Powered Products Co Ltd
Assigned to YAMAHA MOTOR POWER PRODUCTS KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment YAMAHA MOTOR POWER PRODUCTS KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SUGIYAMA, TAKAHIDE, YAMAMOTO, MASANOBU
Publication of US20080264391A1 publication Critical patent/US20080264391A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D29/00—Controlling engines, such controlling being peculiar to the devices driven thereby, the devices being other than parts or accessories essential to engine operation, e.g. controlling of engines by signals external thereto
    • F02D29/06—Controlling engines, such controlling being peculiar to the devices driven thereby, the devices being other than parts or accessories essential to engine operation, e.g. controlling of engines by signals external thereto peculiar to engines driving electric generators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M25/00—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture
    • F02M25/08—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir
    • F02M25/089—Layout of the fuel vapour installation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a canister arrangement in a power generating apparatus, and more particularly to an arrangement of a canister containing an adsorbent for adsorbing thereonto evaporative fuel evaporated from an engine fuel tank.
  • JP 7-34985 describes a conventional device having a canister containing an evaporative fuel adsorbent.
  • the device described in JP 7-34985 includes an engine, a fuel tank for storing fuel to be supplied to the engine, and a canister containing an adsorbent for adsorbing fuel that evaporates from the fuel tank.
  • the canister includes a communicating tube, which places the canister in communication with the atmosphere.
  • the canister is also in communication with an intake system of the engine.
  • the engine is driven by fuel supplied from the fuel tank and outputs a motive force of a predetermined magnitude.
  • the adsorbent and the canister containing the adsorbent therein generally work as follows. Fuel vapor is roughly constantly produced in the fuel tank. During a period in which the engine is stopped or in a low-speed range as in idling, most of the fuel vapor is adsorbed by the adsorbent, thereby preventing the fuel vapor from being released into the atmosphere.
  • a negative pressure builds up inside the intake system of the engine.
  • the negative pressure causes atmospheric air to be sucked into the canister through the communicating tube of the canister.
  • the fuel vapor that has been adsorbed onto the adsorbent is purged from the adsorbent by said sucked air and flows along with the air into the intake system, where it is supplied to the engine and subjected to combustion.
  • the adsorbent When the adsorbent is left unused for a long period of time with the fuel vapor adsorbed thereonto, or when the fuel vapor is repeatedly adsorbed onto and purged from the adsorbent a number of times, the capability (e.g., usable life) of the adsorbent decreases, and a purge rate (purge characteristics) of the fuel vapor decreases.
  • one aspect of the present invention is to improve the purge characteristics of an adsorbent in a power generating apparatus that adsorbs fuel that evaporated from a fuel tank so as to inhibit release of the fuel vapor into the atmosphere, thereby increasing a usable life of the adsorbent.
  • a power generating apparatus comprising an engine comprising an intake system and an exhaust muffler, and a generator driven at least in part by the engine.
  • the power generating apparatus further comprises a muffler cover configured to cover an external side of the muffler, and a fuel tank configured to store fuel to be supplied to the engine.
  • a canister containing an adsorbent material for adsorbing thereonto fuel that evaporates from the fuel tank is also provided.
  • the canister includes a communicating tube that communicates the canister with the atmosphere, the canister being in communication with the intake system.
  • the communicating tube of the canister is disposed so that an opening of the communicating tube is proximate the muffler and an inner surface of the muffler cover.
  • a method of operating a power generating apparatus having a canister arrangement comprises adsorbing fuel vapor from a fuel tank with an adsorbent material to inhibit release of the fuel vapor into the atmosphere, heating air surrounding a muffler of the power generating apparatus, and suctioning the heated air into the adsorbent material to thereby purge said adsorbed fuel vapor from the adsorbent material, said suctioned air and purged fuel vapor directed to an intake system of an engine and combusted therein, the heated air heating the adsorbent material to accelerate the purging of fuel vapor adsorbed on the adsorbent material, thereby increasing the adsorbing rate of the adsorbent material.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of a power generating apparatus.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the power generating apparatus.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view of the power generating apparatus.
  • orientation such as “front,” “rear,” “left” and “right” are used herein to simplify the description of the context of the illustrated embodiments.
  • terms of sequence such as “first” and “second,” are used to simplify the description of the illustrated embodiments. Because other orientations and sequences are possible, however, the present invention should not be limited to the illustrated orientation. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other orientations of the various components described above are possible.
  • Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1-3 denotes a portable power generating apparatus.
  • a direction indicated by arrow Fr in the drawings is a forward direction of the apparatus 1 .
  • the power generating apparatus 1 can include a frame 2 that can be placed on a working surface, such as the ground or a floor surface.
  • the frame 2 can include a chassis 3 that forms a lower end of the frame 2 , a pair of front and rear upwardly-projecting handles 4 supported by front and rear ends of the chassis 3 , respectively, and a pair of left and right connecting bars 5 forming left and right ends of the frame 2 , respectively, and supported by the front and rear handles 4 thereacross.
  • An engine 9 for driving an alternating-current generator 8 can be mounted on the chassis 3 .
  • the engine 9 is a four-cycle engine.
  • the engine 9 can be other suitable engine-types.
  • the engine 9 includes an engine body 10 that outputs a driving force, an intake system 14 for supplying an air-fuel mixture 13 , which is a mixture of air 11 and fuel 12 , to the engine body 10 , and an exhaust system 16 for exhausting combustion gas, which is a resultant product of the combustion of the air-fuel mixture 13 in the engine body 10 , to the atmosphere.
  • the engine body 10 includes a crankcase 20 supporting a crankshaft 19 , a cylinder 21 in the crankcase 20 (e.g., in an upright orientation), a piston 22 axially slidably inserted into the cylinder 21 , an interlocking rod 23 for interlocking between the crankshaft 19 and the piston 22 , an intake valve 26 and an exhaust valve 27 for selectively opening and closing a first intake passage 24 and a first exhaust passage 25 formed in a projecting end of the cylinder 21 , respectively, and a valve actuating mechanism (not shown) for selectively closing the intake and exhaust valves 26 and 27 housed in a valve actuating chamber 28 defined in the projecting end of the cylinder 21 .
  • the engine body 10 also includes a spark plug 31 with a discharging unit thereof facing a combustion chamber 30 inside the cylinder 21 .
  • a spark plug 31 with a discharging unit thereof facing a combustion chamber 30 inside the cylinder 21 .
  • the illustrated embodiment shows one cylinder 21 and the corresponding piston 22 and intake/exhaust valves 26 , 27 , one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the engine 9 can have multiple cylinders, each having a corresponding piston and intake/exhaust valves.
  • the intake system 14 can include a carburetor 35 , an intake pipe 36 , and an air cleaner 37 , connected in series with the first intake passage 24 .
  • a space inside the carburetor 35 , the intake pipe 36 , and the air cleaner 37 is defined as a second intake passage 38 , which is in communication with the first intake passage 24 .
  • the carburetor 35 can include a throttle valve 40 for adjusting an opening of the second intake passage 38 , an actuator 41 (e.g., a step motor or other suitable motor type) for actuating the throttle valve 40 , a choke valve 42 for adjusting an opening of the second intake passage 38 at a position upstream of the throttle valve 40 , and an actuator 42 (e.g., a step motor or other suitable motor type) for actuating the choke valve 42 .
  • an actuator 41 e.g., a step motor or other suitable motor type
  • a choke valve 42 for adjusting an opening of the second intake passage 38 at a position upstream of the throttle valve 40
  • an actuator 42 e.g., a step motor or other suitable motor type
  • the exhaust system 16 can include an exhaust pipe 45 and a muffler 46 , connected in series with the first exhaust passage 25 .
  • a space inside the exhaust pipe 45 and the muffler 46 is defined as a second exhaust passage 47 , which is in communication with the first exhaust passage 25 .
  • a muffler cover 48 can be provided for covering the entire muffler 46 from its laterally outer proximity.
  • the muffler cover 48 is fixed onto a side wall of the muffler 46 with a plurality of (four) fasteners 49 (e.g., bolts or screws). Though four fasteners 49 are shown in the illustrated embodiment, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that more or fewer fasteners can be used.
  • a plurality of communicating holes or openings 48 a are defined in the muffler cover 48 and provide air communication between the inside and outside of the muffler cover 48 . Air that is heated proximate the muffler 46 can be discharged from the power generating apparatus 1 in a laterally outward direction through the communicating holes 48 a. Simultaneously, air of lower temperature is induced by this air discharge and supplied to the surroundings of the muffler 46 . Thus, air cooling of the muffler 46 is attained.
  • a fuel tank 50 for storing fuel 12 to be supplied to the engine 9 through the carburetor 35 can be provided, for example, in the proximity above the engine 9 .
  • An adsorbent 52 for adsorbing thereonto fuel vapor 51 produced in the fuel 12 in the fuel tank 50 , and a canister 53 containing the adsorbent 52 therein are provided.
  • the adsorbent 52 is activated carbon.
  • the canister 53 in one embodiment, can be made of a resin and formed into a box shape of a rectangular cross section. In one embodiment, the canister 53 can be positioned in the power generating apparatus 1 at its lateral end and situated such that its long sides extend in a fore-and-aft direction.
  • the canister 53 can include, at its longitudinal first end, a communicating tube 54 which places the canister 53 in communication with the atmosphere.
  • a first communicating passage 57 through which an upper end of the fuel tank 50 is in communication with a longitudinal second end of the canister 53 , is provided.
  • a second communicating passage 58 through which the second end of the canister 53 is in communication with the air cleaner 37 of the intake system 14 , is also provided.
  • a blow-by gas passage 59 through which the valve actuating chamber 28 is in communication with the air cleaner 37 of the intake system 14 , is also provided.
  • Each of the passages 57 to 59 can be formed of an elastic rubber hose. However, the passages 57 - 59 can be formed of other suitable materials, and need not all be of the same material.
  • the canister 53 is positioned in the proximity above the engine body 10 of the engine 9 .
  • a recess 61 that is open in a downward and laterally outward direction is defined in a lower surface of a portion in the vicinity of a lateral end of the fuel tank 50 .
  • the canister 53 can be housed in the recess 61 and supported by the connecting bar 5 of the frame 2 with at least one fastener 62 .
  • the communicating tube 54 of the canister 53 can be open downward at a position, which can be in a rearward proximity of an upper rear end of the muffler 46 as well as near an inner surface of the muffler cover 48 .
  • the inner surface can be on a side of the muffler 46 .
  • the power generating apparatus 1 can include a starter motor 65 for starting the engine 9 , an ignition unit 66 for causing the spark plug 31 to electrically discharge as required, a temperature sensor 67 for detecting a temperature of the engine body 10 , and an engine speed sensor 68 for detecting the number of revolutions of the crankshaft 19 in the engine body 10 of the engine 9 .
  • the power generating apparatus 1 can further include a controller 69 , a battery 70 , a main switch 71 , and a starter switch 72 .
  • the controller 69 can electronically control the actuators 41 , 43 , and the ignition unit 66 based on detection signals supplied from the temperature sensor 67 and the engine speed sensor 68 .
  • the battery 70 can be charged with a portion of the electric power generated by the generator 8 through the controller 69 , and can supply electric power to the actuators 41 , 43 , the ignition unit 66 , and the like.
  • the main switch 71 can switch on and off the power supply from the battery 70 to the starter motor 65 , the controller 69 , and the like.
  • the starter switch 72 can switch on and off the power supply from the battery 70 to the starter motor 65 through the main switch 71 .
  • the controller 69 can include an outlet 74 through which the other portion of the electric power generated by the generator 8 can be output to an outside load 73 .
  • the adsorbent 52 and the canister 53 work as follows. Fuel vapor 51 is roughly constantly produced in the fuel tank 51 . When the engine 9 is stopped or in a low-speed range (e.g., idling), most of the fuel vapor 51 is adsorbed by the adsorbent 52 through the first communicating passage 57 , thereby preventing the fuel vapor 51 from being released into the atmosphere.
  • a low-speed range e.g., idling
  • a negative pressure builds up inside the intake system 14 .
  • the negative pressure causes air 76 to be sucked into the canister 53 from the outside through the communicating tube 54 of the canister 53 .
  • the fuel vapor 51 that has been adsorbed onto the adsorbent 52 is purged from the adsorbent 52 by the sucked air 76 and flows along with the air 76 through the second communicating passage 58 into the air cleaner 37 and supplied to the engine 9 therefrom, where it is subjected to combustion.
  • blow-by gas 77 generated in the valve actuating chamber 28 is sucked into the air cleaner 37 of the intake system 14 and supplied to the engine 9 therefrom, then subjected to combustion.
  • Water 78 that accumulates in the canister 53 can be discharged to the atmosphere through the communicating tube 54 .
  • the communicating tube 54 of the canister 53 can have its opening in the vicinity of the muffler 46 as well as in the vicinity of the inner surface, on the side of the muffler 46 , of the muffler cover 48 .
  • the muffler 46 is heated by the exhaust 15 passing therethrough. Radiant heat from the thus-heated muffler 46 and its reflected heat from the inner surface of the muffler cover 48 can heat the air 76 in the surroundings of the communicating tube 54 of the canister 53 to a high temperature.
  • the heated air 76 can thus increase a purge rate of the evaporative fuel 51 from the adsorbent 52 . That is, the heated air 76 improves the purge characteristics of the adsorbent 52 , thereby improving an adsorbing rate. Hence, an increase of a usable life of the adsorbent 52 is attained.
  • the improvement in the purge characteristics of the adsorbent 52 allows for the reduction in the amount of the adsorbent 52 used and the reduction in size of the canister 53 .
  • the smaller size of the canister 53 that can be achieved is significantly beneficial for a power generating apparatus 1 , which has a small surplus of space due to a strong demand to reduce the size of the apparatus 1 .
  • the canister 53 can in one embodiment be positioned above the engine body 10 of the engine 9 .
  • the radiant heat of the engine body 10 and a rising current of air about the engine body 10 that is heated by the engine body 10 can heat the adsorbent 52 in the canister 53 , accelerating the purging of the fuel vapor 51 that has been adsorbed onto the adsorbent 52 .
  • This further improves the purge characteristics, thereby increasing the usable life of the adsorbent 52 more reliably.
  • the communicating tube 54 of the canister 53 may has its opening in a space between the muffler 46 and the muffler cover 48 .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Supplying Secondary Fuel Or The Like To Fuel, Air Or Fuel-Air Mixtures (AREA)
US12/109,933 2007-04-25 2008-04-25 Canister arrangement in power generating apparatus Abandoned US20080264391A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2007116077A JP2008274777A (ja) 2007-04-25 2007-04-25 発電装置におけるキャニスタ配設構造
JP2007-116077 2007-04-25

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US20080264391A1 true US20080264391A1 (en) 2008-10-30

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US12/109,933 Abandoned US20080264391A1 (en) 2007-04-25 2008-04-25 Canister arrangement in power generating apparatus

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US (1) US20080264391A1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2008274777A (ja)
CN (1) CN101294524A (ja)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11187195B2 (en) * 2017-12-19 2021-11-30 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Engine generator
US20220243649A1 (en) * 2021-01-29 2022-08-04 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Electric generator

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN115059565B (zh) * 2022-07-08 2023-07-18 安徽天沃重工机械有限公司 一种柴油发动机防护装置

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4778495A (en) * 1986-06-23 1988-10-18 Texas Instruments Incorporated Canister cover heater for automotive vapor canister
US5687697A (en) * 1995-02-24 1997-11-18 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Vehicle fuel vapor treating apparatus
US20020162457A1 (en) * 2001-05-02 2002-11-07 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Fuel vapor handling apparatus and diagnostic apparatus thereof
US20030070651A1 (en) * 2001-10-11 2003-04-17 Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Soundproofed engine generator
US7104258B2 (en) * 2003-12-04 2006-09-12 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. General-purpose engine
US7114492B2 (en) * 2004-09-29 2006-10-03 Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. Method and system of purging evaporative emission control canister using heated purge air

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4778495A (en) * 1986-06-23 1988-10-18 Texas Instruments Incorporated Canister cover heater for automotive vapor canister
US5687697A (en) * 1995-02-24 1997-11-18 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Vehicle fuel vapor treating apparatus
US20020162457A1 (en) * 2001-05-02 2002-11-07 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Fuel vapor handling apparatus and diagnostic apparatus thereof
US6695895B2 (en) * 2001-05-02 2004-02-24 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Fuel vapor handling apparatus and diagnostic apparatus thereof
US20030070651A1 (en) * 2001-10-11 2003-04-17 Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Soundproofed engine generator
US7104258B2 (en) * 2003-12-04 2006-09-12 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. General-purpose engine
US7114492B2 (en) * 2004-09-29 2006-10-03 Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. Method and system of purging evaporative emission control canister using heated purge air

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11187195B2 (en) * 2017-12-19 2021-11-30 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Engine generator
US20220243649A1 (en) * 2021-01-29 2022-08-04 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Electric generator
US11619166B2 (en) * 2021-01-29 2023-04-04 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Electric generator

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Publication number Publication date
JP2008274777A (ja) 2008-11-13
CN101294524A (zh) 2008-10-29

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: YAMAHA MOTOR POWER PRODUCTS KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:YAMAMOTO, MASANOBU;SUGIYAMA, TAKAHIDE;REEL/FRAME:020864/0489

Effective date: 20080410

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION